December 10, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

False prophets don't come with warning labels. They do not advertise that they are wolves dressed as sheep. They may not even intend to do harm, but that doesn't stop the harm they cause. There are a lot of things in this world called 'Christian.' And yet, they do damage to Christians and threaten to take away their hope found in Christ. If we are not careful, we may even find ourselves as one of the wolves.

This is why it is so important to be in God's Word regularly. Scripture is where God talks to us. He teaches us what is right, what is His. It's God's Word that tells us of our sin and fallen nature. It's God's Word that tells us how God made a plan to save us from the beginning through Jesus. 

God's Word shows us the world that we really see. Things are difficult here. Things hurt here. There are crosses here, especially when we confess Christ. Anything that tells us these things will not bother you if you have enough faith, does not come from God. Our hope comes from something far better. Our hope is found in Jesus. 

There is sin in the world. We have sin ourselves. But Jesus bears it in our place. Dies for it on His cross. You know what God thinks of you by looking at what He did on Good Friday for you. He takes your sin away. He forgives you. He saves you. He makes you part of His family. He feeds you. He washes you. He is present even now with you. Now might not be without pain, but with Christ, there is more hope than all the world's comfort apart from Him. Included in this hope is resurrection for you. Eternal life for you. A world without sin for you, those you love in the faith, all believers, and God Almighty Himself. These are all promised in that Word.

False prophets, even unwitting ones, put those things in doubt, take those things away. But Christ has given you His Word to test these things by. Be in His Word often. For He is with you always.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

"Comfort, comfort ye My people, Speak ye peace," thus saith our God; "Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning 'neath their sorrow's load. Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them; Tell her that her sins I cover And her warfare now is over." (LSB 347:1)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.